Secular Christianity

In the West, we have created with our actions a new category of Christianity. This new segment of Christianity is not focused on doing what is right but rather on fitting in. In an effort to be relevant to this generation we have chosen to be defiled before Yah. To reach the world we become worldly.  Today we would be hard-pressed to know the difference between a Christian and a non-believer. The practices of those who profess salvation mirror greatly the lifestyle of those who are not. Women who are backbiters, immodest in conduct and attire, drinking, smoking, and profane, with questionable character as their word is smooth as water yet lacks consistency. Ladies, we must do better, we must take off the world’s definition of Christianity which imitates that of the world and put on true holiness and godliness without which no man, nor woman will see God. (Heb. 12:14)

To the deflectors, many would say why am I being so hard on the women, and to which I would say as a woman because scripture doesn’t teach women to teach men. There is a purpose for which God has created me a woman and it is as a woman I live in this life. I believe that if we as women or if men as men would focus on the ministry that they are called to rather than always pointing fingers concerning the role and position of those who don’t walk in their shoes we would be able to make a difference in eternity. A deflector spends their life focusing on others as a way of avoiding the issues that they have with themselves. Please understand this article is not just written for your benefit, but as a two-edged sword to remind me that this is indeed a narrow walk we are called to.

As any parent who corrects their child does so in hopes of them rising above mediocrity, and encourages them to strive for achieving their best effort, so also does our Heavenly Father. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want to look at us and be reminded of the world and the sorry state it is in, but rather He wants to see the reflection of His Son. If this wasn’t the case He wouldn’t have eloquently defined us as members of His son’s body. (Eph. 1:22-23; Col. 1:18)

Secular Christianity is so pervasive that if you put a Christian next to someone who doesn’t believe in God, you really couldn’t tell the difference. Yet this ought not to be so. Scripture teaches us that friendship with the world is enmity with God. (James 4:4) It goes on to say that if anyone is a friend of the world they are enemies of God. Thus the concept of secular Christianity is an oxymoron in and of itself based on the scriptures definition. What makes a secular Christian?  A Christian who fears hell claims Yeshua as a man on a plane claims a parachute in the event the plane crashes, it doesn’t hurt to have insurance, right? However, the idea that accepting Yeshua as savior (parachute) is fine, but giving him lordship (meaning he is master, and solely determines what we do) is completely different. You mean God has the right to decide what I can and cannot eat, what holidays I should or shouldn’t keep, what day I should rest, and how I should dress? Now, that is a different story altogether.

In the past nine years as we have journeyed deeper in the scripture and begin finding that our identity as followers of Yeshua simply means that, we have come to realize that Lordship means exactly that. It means that we have been bought with a price and we can’t make up the rules as we go along. (1 Cor. 6:20; 1 Cor. 7:23) We have learned that submitting ourselves to God’s will doesn’t mean that we can name and claim things, or demand the promises of God without living the life required to obtain those promises. Much as we can’t expect that our parents would reward us for disobeying their instructions. Or a judge would let us go for committing a crime. We have discovered rather that God’s love for us dictates that when we ignore his instructions that we open the door to the punisher so that the thing that God didn’t want us to have to suffer becomes the very thing we must go through to bring us back to him. It is far more merciful for us to reap our punishment on this end than to be a continual burnt offering in the lake of fire of God’s wrath which burns eternally for all the children of disobedience.

(Eph 2:2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

(Eph 5:6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

(Col 3:6) For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

Indeed in times past we walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, and yes if we have not been washed in the blood of Yeshua we are a child of disobedience and as we read in these passages above the reward for such who choose that path is less than desirable. Death is a terrible wage to work our entire lives for, yet the unfortunate fact of the matter is millions will end up there and truly sad is they would have on this end called themselves Christians, yet they will be as those who Yeshua said to depart from Him. (Matt. 7:21) Why will these who call him Lord, Lord, find themselves in the same lake of fire as those who openly denounced him? Because they operated in the same spirit as those who were secular (of the world), they operated in disobedience to the Creator. They were lawless, workers of iniquity, without law, illegalistic, all of the above. We cannot live for him and live any kind of way at the same time, such a person is called double-minded.

(Jas 1:8) A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Either we are married to the Shepherd or we are in it simply because we don’t like the alternative. Escaping hell may get you in, but it won’t be a strong enough pull to keep you there. At some point we must want to be with God because we love him, we recognize and trust that His way of doing things is the best way. The biggest fallacy that believers are tempted to except is the one that says God knows I am human and I will make mistakes. Once we open the door to the acceptance that failure is not just an option but inevitable. Those who are lukewarm will find themselves going in a direction that will get them spewed out of the mouth of the Almighty.(Rev. 3:16)

Secular Christianity has many aspects, and we have just seen a few, but one other aspect which especially affects women more than men and we see this especially with the account of Eve in the garden. We have a tendency to put our spin on the truth which tends to add to the truth. Just as Eve added “not to touch it” to the instructions, we too like to create an understanding of the Almighty that is not based on scripture. When we relegate God to what we think he means, rather than what He says then we have just pulled him down to someone we can relate to, instead of acknowledging who He said he was. Does God want us to relate to Him? Yes, but on his terms, not ours. We see many examples of man relating to God starting from Abraham, but if we study the way they related to God, we see the reverence in their approach, and when they petitioned God on matters that would seem to indicate a more intimate approach it is done so based on understanding. To sum it up His ways are not our ways, and his thoughts are not our thoughts. (Isa. 55:8) Many of us don’t experience a breakthrough in areas we are pursuing God and expecting him to move because we don’t understand that principle.

We are all too willing to accept that Christ died for us, but not too willing to live in holiness, which scripture makes clear without which no man can see Him. (Heb. 12:14) Thus this is where we have a problem because to be secular is to be the opposite of holy, and if being relevant means embracing or walking, talking, or looking like the world to reach it than we have become an enemy to the Almighty.

The point I am making is that secular Christianity is NOT Christianity at all.  When the Father sees us does he see who he created us to be, or does he see who the world created?  Who we are in Christ should never be compromised regardless of where we go.  Even in the midst of sinners, it should be clear that there is something different about us.  If this is not the case and we have crossed the line then the fruit that we bear will be manifest.  I would encourage you to ask yourself some questions, how comfortable are those who do not know the Lord with you?  Do they see that there has been a change in your life?  How well do you fit in with the world?  If your answer to these questions indicate that there is no difference, if you fit in well, then you are secular NOT Christian.

How To Understand The Will of YHVH For Your Life: Part II Oneness

A Name Correction

Before we go into the meat and potatoes of our bible study this week, I would like to make note of something the observant reader may have noticed. The name correction in the series.   We are constantly being tweaked in our walk with the Lord and it is important that as we consider what He says and what He doesn’t say that we pay close attention to the words that He uses and say likewise. The basis of this series is on Ephesians 5:17 which states “understanding what the will of YHVH is”. While to many there is a subtle distinction between the two I would like to point out the sharp contrast in their meaning.

Knowledge is the beginning of wisdom, but understanding is wisdom’s closest cousin.

Wisdom is the principle thing, but in all thy getting, we are instructed to get an understanding. (Prov. 4:7)

In that verse the word knowledge doesn’t appear, why? I believe it is because knowledge is like the base or foundation of wisdom, but understanding is what builds the walls which takes us to the roof which in this analogy would be wisdom.   Wisdom covers a house while knowledge keeps it.  Knowledge is the alphabets, understanding are the words, and wisdom is the action, that is produced when you get the other two.

Knowledge doesn’t motivate you to action, but understanding does.

There are people who know scripture backwards and forwards, but still have no power to live a holy life. How is this possible? The same way you can teach a child to call words but they still have no understanding of the words that they called. Understanding helps you understand the mess in your life, and in this context from a Godly perspective. It is what helps you hang on for dear life when the storms come to blow you away, understanding that God has you. Understanding gives you perspective and with perspective you can weather the storms that occur without jumping ship. Those with knowledge don’t ask “the what” question. Those with understanding don’t ask “the why” question, and those with wisdom don’t ask “how”.  It is lack of understanding why that prevents many of us from acting on the plan of God for our lives. Stick with me in this series and that is exactly what you will get, the answer to that question.

Back to our series on Oneness

Just Follow The Script

In a play everyone knows all the lines but they are intimately familiar with their own. Messiah made it clear that he was following the script the Father had already written concerning Him. He didn’t ad lib or use creative license.

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. Luk 4:21

For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Joh 20:9

These are only two out of many scriptures that reveal that he was following a script, and past the gospels you will find that those who followed him were following the same script, just a different role.

This brings me to why it is important that though we are one, we must understand our divine call in God’s plan. Rather than allowing our differences to divide us, we should allow the common script we follow to unite us. God created us different and has given us different roles for his purpose. If we appreciate that then we won’t have the Peter syndrome. Worrying about what will happen to John rather than following the script that was laid out for him. (John 21:20-22) John had a different role in the same script, as do we. Like in television today when a casting call goes out for a specific part a certain look is required for that role. If the part is looking for a slim, white woman with blond hair then that is what the role calls for, if it is looking for a tall, dark and handsome man then that is what it is looking for. The differences that divide us are differences that were created by Elohim, in which we have no right to judge those things. The only thing that should divide us are those differences that man has made that stands in opposition to God’s word and His Spirit.

Despite the belief that we all are God’s children scripture makes it clear that this is not true. (1 Jn 3:10) We are all God’s creation, but identification with Christ is based on being born into his family, through the unified experience that all believers have. The born again experience which brings us into a unified life in Messiah. We are all apart of the script rather we are for or against him, as much as Judas was. It’s just that we get a different role once we are born into the kingdom.

Our oneness in Christ can make room for our differences in life.

It takes many different spices to create a tasty dish, and the absence of any of them changes its flavor. Our unity is necessary, our uniformity is not. If we change our expectation we can change the outcome. I shouldn’t expect you to be me and I shouldn’t be expected to be you. Like Christ I should embrace the will of God, the inheritance He has given me and not covet that which belongs to another. In Christ we inherit a rich heritage, our coat of many colors are unified under the same blood that He shed for us, and if we do the will of His Father then we are his brother, his sister, and even his mother. (Matt. 12:50) Our distinctive roles are based on the same unified plan, let’s just walk that out.

And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. Gen 11:6-7 

Notice in this verse that the power came in them speaking the same language, not looking the same way. We don’t need to make uniformity the brass ring we grasp for, or the focus of our fellowship. Which is why confounding their language was the means of dispersion. We see this in reverse in the book of acts.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

What did that power look like?

 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. Act 2:4-6

 

We are called to oneness in every relationship we have within the body of Christ. We should speak the same and think the same as the one we are following, Christ. Just as we are instructed to have the mind of Christ, and since we know Christ’s mind wasn’t divided neither should a believer’s mind be divided.

Even in marriage we are called into unity, thus the proper picture of this oneness is reflected when a wife takes the last name of her husband. Hyphenated names reflect the distinction between the two and shows division, whereas the wife assuming the identity of the husband is a reflection of us as believers assuming the identity of our bridegroom, Christ.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. Eph 5:22-31 

So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Rom 12:5

But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. 1Co 8:6

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. Gal 3:28

All these scriptures reflect the same one truth that we are one body in Christ, our distinctions don’t determine our position nor give us an extra edge.  We are seen as His body as a collective whole and thus when one hurts the body hurts, when one rejoices the body rejoices because what happens to a member effects the membership altogether.  The kingdom of God doesn’t operate like an episode of Survivor, we operate like an ant.  Each one of us have a part to play which effects the well-being of the colony.

Food For Thought

• Are you walking in the oneness of Christ?
• Are the things that divide you based on his word or your preference?
• Are you judging according to the appearance or righteous judgment when analyzing your brothers and sisters in the Lord?
• Are you endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace?
• In your prayers make sure that you are daily praying for understanding of the will of Yah for your life. Commit to do nothing different without His instruction. Meaning submit your plans to YHVH, and don’t move forward until you have clarity of His will in the situation.

Next week we will look at the Plurality of God.  He is a unified one, yet he has three dimensions to His presence.  We will get a better understanding of the term “trinity” and how like Him we are created in His image and likeness.

Did you miss the last series, Be Ye Therefore Wise As Serpents?  Well, don’t fret if you are enjoying this series you will want to get the other one.  I am working on an e-book now that can be used for small bible groups and is designed to be application oriented.  This simple and thought provoking series will challenge you in your study and in how you walk to harness the wisdom of the serpent who was able to through subtlety strip us of the inheritance we received from YHVH in the garden of Eden.  If you would be interested in this series please fill out the form below. It is currently in pre-production and the projected cost will be $5.00.

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Life Tips 101 Starting Your Day With Yah

Finding creative solutions for the hectic life to have quality one on one time with the Lord.  This is also a creative solution for extending your quality time with the Lord.  Find more organizational options for the hectic life @ The Purposeful Home.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/collection/gj7yWB

Below is a website that you can go to and purchase this devotional or any other to begin starting your own collection of devotionals.  Don’t just buy one, because then you only have seed for the sower, but buy more than one to share with friends and loved ones.  Don’t just share the devotional, share the principles you are learning here with them so that they can make the time they need to have the refreshing necessary with the Lord for their day.  Remember sowing the word of God is one sure way you will get back a return on your investment.  There are three things I highly recommend a devotion to offer.

1. Key bible verses that connect to the topic.  What is the point of a devotion if you can’t see how what they are sharing connects to the subject they are sharing.  This is important so that you can see the practical application to your life.
2. Relevant to your life.  What a mother would need is not necessarily what a single career woman would need.  So for that cause make sure that whatever devotional you choose it will hit home where you are.  This should also apply as it relates to those you share it with.  Remember this devotional is for your personal time not your family gathering so it should fuel you for your day.  Getting a devotional for family gatherings is not a bad idea, but I personally would suggest as a family you pray and seek the Lord through His word as to what type of study you should do.  Remember two or three gathered in His name someone is sure to get direction concerning where He is leading you.
3. Make sure it gives you questions to ponder.  This is important you start your day with God, but the conversation never ends.  Part of growing in the Lord requires that you develop an ask and hear relationship.  As we ask God for answers, he hears and provides them for us.  Most of us never get to having our own bible study with the Lord because we have no questions to jump start our quest.  Thanks to the computer apps and software resources available it is so easy to do word and phrase studies.  Which means we can quickly find answers to our biblical questions.  The assistance of other biblical resources such as Strong’s dictionary and concordance, BDB, AHLB, and more we are now able to get to the original text and get even greater understanding. It will be these questions that you pursue Yah for the answers for that will help you grow in your relationship with God and with others.
   
   

How to Acquire the Peaceable Life

In the wake of another shooting here in Louisiana where three officers were murdered, I would like to share my thoughts from the scripture as a citizen of Louisiana. As a citizen of color, I have just watched the press release from our officials, and was impressed with one particular speaker who hit the nail on the head concerning the issue we have in this nation. He made it clear the issue is not the ability to carry a gun, but the heart. I have heard people on both sides of the issue from black lives matter and blue lives matter, but what I am not hearing is how we can all live our lives in peace.  Which is clearly the agenda of both sides.  Yet scripture gives us instructions on how to obtain that.

 

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Ti 2:1-2)

 

I don’t know why there are people who believe that prayer is either doing nothing or being passive, but prayer is the most important weapon we can use in this hour. Before one of the greatest warriors went to battle and won victoriously he sought YHVH in prayer. This man even in the face of unjust threat of death by the King of Israel, didn’t pursue the death of the King. Not because of his respect for King Saul, but because of his respect for the Giver of the authority the King possessed. He didn’t just talk to God, but waited on God to give him the answer necessary to proceed.  This man’s name was David, and he would become King of Israel, and it was said of him that he was a man after God’s own heart.  (1 Sam. 13:14)  I perceive this is not just because he respected authority, but the reason he respected authority.  He respected the authority of the Almighty and that is what God is looking for.  Our love for Him. Jesus when questioned by Pilate stated he wouldn’t have no power except it was given to him from above. (John 19:11)  Once again recognizing that even in the face of an unjust system that the authority of that system comes from above, and as Messiah makes clear in that same context that no unjust deed on earth goes unpunished or unnoticed from our heavenly Father.  Thus, He tells us vengeance is His, and He will repay. (Rom 12:19)

No injustice on earth goes unchecked by the Almighty!

Realizing the severity of the punishment when He begin to repay should produce in us the same Spirit that was in Christ on the cross or Stephen who was being stoned.  In one word “prayer”.  It takes more strength to pray for someone who is doing you wrong or who you perceive is doing you wrong then to retaliate.  To hate them that hate you is as easy as it is to love those who love you.

This scripture in 1 Timothy is setting in place that order is important. Notice who these “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks” are to be made for first, “all men” and then specifically, “kings, all that are in authority”.

Is it possible that we are seeing the intensity we are seeing because we stop praying for those who are in authority?  Because we are exhorted to give our supplications (requests), prayer, intercession, and thanks for “all in authority” so that “we” might lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  That word all doesn’t stop at just praying for the President, or for your own personal pick in congress, but requires we pray for those who we voted for and those who we didn’t vote for.  This includes our military and our police.   If we don’t do this, what you think the outcome will be? Turn on your news, we are seeing the product of neglecting to follow this exhortation.

Finally, there came a time where David did take out the authority of the world, we see this in him taking out Goliath, but under the authority only of YHVH could he be victorious. We don’t get to pick and choose who is taken out, this is only within the hand of the Almighty and based on His timing. King Saul was told to wipe out all of the people of the Amalekites, this included the King of that land. However, this was only based on the Lord’s clear instructions. Which is why it is so vitally important that we have the Spirit of YHVH operating within us. How do we know what we are seeing before our eyes is not of YHVH? God didn’t send his people on suicide missions.  When the children of Israel obeyed YHVH they didn’t lose their battle. Their victory was clear, and their loss of minimal if at all.  The only time the children of Israel lost a battle is when they went without the permission of YHVH. Without the Spirit of YHVH we will find ourselves outside of the will of God, and in opposition to Him. This is a dangerous place to be, yet where unfortunately many of our people are finding ourselves.

Let’s direct our anger against injustice, cry out for righteous rulers. Pray that the heart of the king will submit to the Almighty so that they will rule the land in justice, mercy, and right rulings. Pray for husbands and Fathers, local, state, regional, and national leaders, ministers, and our young men who will one day fill these positions of leadership. Our greatest strength will be in our submission to the will and word of the Almighty. Outside of this we are in danger, and we cannot fulfill His will without knowing what it is and who He is.

 

There are some principles in scripture that we as a nation better began to understand.  While we may pattern our military wisdom from studying the playbook of Alexander the Great.  The serpent was who our Messiah told us to turn to for wisdom as believers.  In this hour believers who don’t understand what Yahushah (Jesus) meant by this will be completely shaken by the world and the battle to come.  Isn’t it interesting God didn’t say be ye as wise as Solomon, though he was given wisdom unlike any other man.  Think about it, we are in the situation as humans that we are in because a serpent was able to deceive Eve.  We need to tap into the wisdom of a serpent from a heavenly perspective, so that we would be able to defeat the enemy of our lives with the wisdom that God has made available in the earth.  I will be sharing what I received from my study in my e-book. This e-book will show you:

1. How the characteristics of a serpent can translate into wisdom for a believer and how we should walk in that wisdom.
2. How to extract Spiritual principles from  understanding the natural character traits of how God created the serpent.
3. Often times we don’t get what we need in our walk with Christ because we don’t ask the right questions.  The right questions in how we study can make a tremendous difference in its benefit for us.  It is insightful in that it will ask questions at the end of each chapter so that you can reflect on them and gauge if you are using this wisdom in your life.

The e-book is currently in pre-production, but you can fill out the form below to let me know that you are interested in reserving a copy.  The cost will be $5.00.  I am making e-books to save on the cost of printing.  If you would prefer a hard copy please let me know as you submit me your contact information, if enough people are interested in a hard copy I will provide print on demand, but the cost will be more.

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Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

I’ve heard this question asked by many people. Usually from those trying to explain the nonexistence of God, which usually sounds something like, “if there was a God why would he allow bad things to happen to good people?”   Or by others trying to understand why they lost a loved one unexpectedly. The question is indelibly, why me? Well, I just wanted to share some of my thoughts from what I received from scripture. First and foremost, there are NO good people. So the question is a misnomer because we ask it comparing people to ourselves. Jesus, the greatest or “goodest” man who ever walked the face of the earth stated there was none that was good. (Matt. 19:17)   However, even if I consider the question from the standpoint of comparing ourselves among ourselves, in which scripture also has something to say about that, then this is the approach that I would share it from. (2 Cor. 10:12)

God’s ways are so far greater than our ways that even from the aerial view of a plan tens of thousands of feet in the sky we still can’t imagine the love God has for us. There are two passages of scripture in particular that the Holy Spirit dropped in my spirit concerning this.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: Isa 55:8-10 

 

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2Pe 3:9

 

Now concerning the first passage of scripture, remember the plane analogy I just shared. From an airplane the earth looks like a multi-textured quilt interwoven in various patterns, and it appears so small that you can see States from an oval window at once. Now imagine God sees way more than we can see from an oval window in a plane, which means that while we are like one speck of dust compared to the multitude of people everywhere from His view, we look at our pain, our circumstances and we isolate ourselves from the world. Forgetting the second passage of scripture I shared, which is that God is longsuffering for a reason. That reason is he desires that none shall perish. He even cares about that man who went into the Emmanuel AME  ministry and murdered those people in Charleston, and watched as they prayed then killed them with no remorse afterwards.  Before you get angry at me for making that statement, just keep reading.   Why would he allow this person to live and so many innocent people to die? Well, because God sees our eternal welfare as being more important than our temporal state of being. Read Acts 7, here we see Stephen sharing the truth with his own people, just giving them a history lesson of the faithfulness of God and the unfaithfulness of God’s people. After he shares this profound truth with them they didn’t rejoice and thank him for this revelation, but stoned him. God would allow a man who is doing His work, and according to the passage itself full of the Holy Spirit to be stoned to death. He didn’t allow him to escape it, didn’t raise him from the dead, but rather brought him to his heavenly place to enter into the glory set before him. From our perspective it would seem that the just thing might have been for God to strike down those wicked people for murdering him, but if he did that what would be the eternal state of those who died? We know that it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. This means the end result for such a person in this position would be eternity in the lake which burns with fire. As important as this life is, it is temporal, no matter how we exit it, the point is we will exit it. Whether we suffer for our sake or righteousness sake we will not live forever in these bodies.

 

Rom 8:23  And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Knowing where you will go when you exit this body and being able to rejoice that our name is written in the lamb’s book of life it is the security that we as believers should have that helps us keep a heavenly perspective when we are faced with hellish circumstances. I don’t weep for believers who meet their Maker, they have gone home as Paul puts it.

We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 2Co 5:8

One might say then if that is the case then why don’t we just end it all, before someone takes our life, or at least then I can choose how I exit? Because your life is very important, like Paul you have a mission and your heavenly reward is based on you completing it. Eternal life is a free gift that we receive but don’t confuse the perks of position with the benefits available with it. There are rewards for living a dedicated life to Christ, not in quitting life. In fact scripture makes it clear that quitting is not an option that reaps reward, no matter how hard things get.

 

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God. Luk 9:62

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Rev 21:8

Those who give up on life fall under the category of the fearful, and faithless. If we are living for ourselves and consider our lives to be our own, instead of being that which is bought with a price then we fall under that category. Some days we can feel like it takes way more courage to live than to end it all.  Your life is valuable and even if not to anyone but Christ, then live for Him. He gave up this life so that you could have eternal life, that is why there is no greater love than His. Indeed bad things do happen to innocent people, and isn’t it awesome that we serve a God that knows that intimately.

I did a series on Matt 10:16 focusing on the characteristics of a serpent that we as believers should apply to our lives.  Isn’t it interesting God didn’t say be ye as wise as Solomon, yet though he was given wisdom unlike any other man.  Think about it, we are in the situation as humans that we are in because a serpent was able to deceive Eve.  We need to tap into the wisdom of a serpent from a heavenly perspective, so that we would be able to defeat the enemy of our lives with the wisdom that God has made available in the earth.  I am making it available as an e-book. This e-book will show you:

1. How the characteristics of a serpent can translate into wisdom for a believer and how we should walk in that wisdom.
2. How to understand how Spiritual principles can be extracted from getting a natural understanding of how God created the serpent.
3. Often times we don’t get what we need in our walk with Christ because we don’t hask the right questions.  The right questions in how we study can make a tremendous difference in its benefit for us.  It is insightful in that it will ask questions at the end of each chapter so that you can reflect on them and gauge if you are using this wisdom in your life.

The e-book is currently in pre-production, but you can fill out the form below to let me know that you are interested in reserving a copy.  The cost will be $5.00.  I am making e-books to save on cost of printing.  If you would prefer a hard copy please let me know as you submit me your contact information, if enough people are interested in a hard copy I will provide print on demand, but the cost will more than likely be more than $5.00.

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Unity Not Uniformity

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: Eph. 4:13

 

Notice how this scripture doesn’t say come into the uniformity of the faith, but the unity of the faith. Which like these bottles reflect, we come in different forms and sizes by design. Mankind desires you to look just like them, bricks. While the Father molds you for His purposes. God creates stones with different shapes, sizes, and colors. Mankind makes cookie cutter bricks that hates individuality and uniqueness. But our uniqueness by design was important to God because it also reflects our purpose. Which is also different by design. To move in the plans God has for you, you have to be willing to go against societal norms, be willing to sometimes where the loud and bold colors so that Christ in you can get the world’s attention. The key to being uniquely used is not just being different in how you act, but in who you represent. The whole world is self serving seeking to represent itself. You stand out by simply making your difference your platform for Christ. A chance for others to see the Holy Spirits work in you.

Tenth Day Counting the Omer

The tenth day appears thirteen times in scripture.  The tenth day of the counting of the Omer is the third day of the second week.  In the third day the waters were gathered together in one place.  Then the dry land appeared.
The theme of gathering together seems to take place in every scripture relating to the tenth day.  In the first instance it is gathering to collect a lamb four days before it is to be slain for Passover.  In the next three occurrences it is in regards to the Day of Atonement which is a holy convocation to afflict one’s soul for the atonement of the nation of Israel.  In Numbers 7:66 the prince of the children of Dan offers an offering to YHVH on the tenth day of the year of Jubilee, which references gathering unto Yah.  In Joshua the children of Israel come up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamp in Gilgal.  The same day they would be gathering a lamb for the Passover in that year.  In 2 Kings 25:1; Jer. 52:4 now the enemies of God’s people are gathered together against them.
In the tenth day we see many of the scriptures reference either the gathering of the people or a point person who gathers with YHVH, such as a prince, priest, or prophet.  Also the majority of the instances this day is recorded it is centered around one of the Feast days either four days before Passover or on the Day of Atonement.  Both of which have something to do with a sacrifice on behalf of the people,

Passover individual redemption, Atonement national redemption.

The first time it appears it is referencing every man taking a lamb for his household. (Exodus 12:3)  This is four days before the Passover is to be slain for the household and put on the door post and five days before it is to be eaten.  The second time it appears is in Lev. 16:29 and it is in regards to the Day of Atonement which takes place on the tenth day of the seventh month.

The tenth day is a time when we should be gathering towards God, and turning our hearts towards him.  If you have any area of your life that you have not submitted to the King of Glory, then this is the day to do it.  Study yourself and inspect your life, ask the Lord if there be in you any wicked way, and if there be submit that to him.  Let Him cleanse you.  While the tenth day beckons us to gather to him, the number ten points to a picture of tempting, trials, and tests. (Gen. 31:7; Gen. 31:41; Neh. 4:12; Job. 19:3; Num. 14:22; Dan. 1:20)  In Daniel we see that he passed the test, and that is what we want in our lives to take the test and pass it.  So I encourage you to cast your cares upon the Lord because he does care for you and he is for your betterment, but that can’t happen unless we are honest with ourselves and with him.  Let your test today be one that ends with an A+.

Taking Hold of Your Senses

The Fifth Characteristic of a Serpent that Every Believer Should Have

We are constantly being bombarded with  news from every angle and often times it is hard to know what the truth really is.  However, it is so very easy to go off half cocked with all guns blazing when we read or hear something that strikes a chord on our heart string.  However, there is a reason why we are not to judge according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment. (John 7:24)  Appearances can be deceitful, and by itself makes a poor witness to condemn a man, not because of what we see but what we don’t see.  The seconds before the crime was done could determine if a person is guilty or if they had been framed.

One of the characteristics of a serpent that we can learn from in this instance is to take heed to how they receive stimuli.  They receive stimuli from their forked tongue, that is constantly tasting the surroundings as it moves along.  Thus it has something tangible to base it’s decisions on.  We already discussed before that its not sensitive to airborne sound, which can be a lot more deceitful then the tangibility of what you touch, or taste which requires direct contact with you making you a witness who experienced what you were exposed to.

It receives stimuli from the forked tongue that constantly tastes the surroundings as the animal moves along.  This means it is informed.  It hears both sides of the story and relies on something tangible, not on lip service or air waves which is fickle, but it has to have hard evidence to make it’s decision.  We are not to be bearers of untruth, false witnesses, or gossipers of unsubstantiated information.  But we had better have something that our senses have in some way encountered to base our decisions on.  Matt. 12:36; Mar. 7:15

Things to Ponder this week?

1. Have we looked sideways at a situation and made a verdict or condemnation based on half information?
2. Are we really concerned about truth or more interested in having something to tell? There was a man who witnessed the death of King Saul and in his excitement to tell the soon to be King David of Saul’s demise he communicated an untruth that he thought would rind him a handsome reward with the soon to be King of Israel, David.  In his haste he fail to understand that David was a man after God’s own heart and took no delight in the slaying of God’s authority even though that authority sought to take his life. (1 Sam. 31:4-5; 2 Sam. 1:2; 2 Sam. 4:10)  This mans reward was death, and that was what he was paid for his tale bearing.  We had better be careful about how quick we are to want to be the bearer of bad news, and take part in wicked schemes, lest we find ourselves receiving of the same sort of reward.

The Social Media Attraction – Distraction

The distraction of this hour is social media, it actually trains us to have the attention span of a gnat.  Through alluring advertisement and over stimulation, with short one liners we are being conditioned to NOT discern the obvious flaws in sayings or to be deep thinkers.  Deep thinkers are required to be well learned and insure comprehension before speaking.  These are not skills we are adapt to using in our text talk and tweet lines.  We are not trained to even read what is on the lines much less to find the underlying theme between it.  What’s on your mind can only take you so far before you become scrolled down for a more palatable discussion.  One that will tickle the ear and only engage the frontal lobe of your psyche.  To discuss anything else or to engage in any conversation more meaningful leads to endless strands of passerby’s making references and statements to one line of a paragraph that they have chosen to dissect at the exclusion of the whole.

Now before you label me a traditionalist or conspiracy theorist, let me balance the discussion.  I mean after all I am as guilty as my reader to using this form of communication, current case in point.  Social media does have some benefits especially for those who have a heart for the lost, and since in the span of time we as a society have for meaningful dialogue is quite short, it can be effective for some to come to know Jesus Christ (Yahushah Ha Maschiach).

Amazingly the advent of new inventions directed at making our lives easier, and convenient for freeing our time, has somehow only given us less time to enjoy life than those who have less of our conveniences to begin with, go figure.  Or at least we tell ourselves that.  The time we spend in front of television a week if replaced with reading productive books would do more to engage our minds and enhance our ability to communicate with others.  Even if we would endeavor to listen to audio books rather than watching television or spending hours texting and social networking.  Social networking itself is a misnomer because in actuality it does the opposite, but who would sign up for an unsocializing network?  We are being trained how not to communicate directly, but rather subliminally.  We are being told that we only have a few seconds to engage the minds of our readers and thus we must focus on appealing to their flesh instead of nourishing their soul.  The rate of depression is soaring in our nation and rather than coping or facing the root of it we are being cajoled into believing that the answer resides in ignoring the root problem and finding as many things, people, or activities to throw ourselves into as the acceptable antidote.  However, what we find instead is like most remedies today the cure comes with its list of equally as harmful possible side effects.

Rest assured whatever thing you think it is you will acquire that will remove that void, that longing, that need in your life, whatever it is it will fall short.  That fabulous house or that fancy car will get old, and like you it’s problems will become an overwhelming alarm that echoes the same words, EMPTY.  Life doesn’t consist of the abundance of things that we acquire^{Luke 12:15}, and seeking after those things for meaning, looking to those things for happiness, will lead to a life unfulfilled, unsatisfied, and incomplete.  Incomplete because the purpose for which we were created will still be unfulfilled.  It would be like creating a car to be used as a paper weight.  Yeah it will keep the paper from flying but oh what a shame if it never was used on the open road.  Don’t go another day without Jesus (Yahushah), without the Lord you may be able to acquire things, achieve rewards in life, and win positions of authority, but what would be the profit of gaining the world and losing your soul?^{Matt. 16:26}

(Luk 12:15)  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

(Mat 16:26)  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Our Real Struggle in the Flesh

Too many people are basing their love for Messiah on what other people are doing. There should not be one person who leaves Yahushah because of what the body does. For as Paul said, “was Paul crucified for you?” (1 Cor. 1:13) This same question we must remember when we are confronted with challenges in relationships with organized religious leaders, spouses, and parents. Our relationship with the Lord should not be hinged on those who represent or misrepresent Him. The failure of these key figures to mirror the example of Messiah for us doesn’t reflect on Messiah’s love for us, but rather reveals a lack of Messiah in those who don’t walk in the love he exemplified.

If my desire to be a Godly wife is based on my husband’s treatment of me or his reciprocation to respond as a Godly husband then I lose a great opportunity to walk like our Messiah. The example He set for us is that while we were yet sinners he died for us. We didn’t deserve, we didn’t love and we weren’t reverent. As the scripture also says we love Him because HE first loved us. (1 Jn 4:19) It took a love out of this world to come to this world to show us what love was. If it could have been found in a human being other than Christ then He wouldn’t have needed to come. Yah sought someone who could make a hedge between him and us and none was found. (Eze. 22:30)

By all means I encourage ministers, spouses, and parents to walk in the footsteps of Christ, that they lose not their reward, knowing that to whom much is given much is required. Yes, I implore you as leaders to walk and respond to others as Christ dictates because I truly believe that he meant exactly what He said concerning it being better for a millstone to be tied around one’s neck and they be cast into the sea then to offend one of His little ones. (Matt. 18:6) Nevertheless, we make a grave error if we allow abuse to be an excuse for turning away from God. We misjudge the longsuffering of the Almighty upon what looks like a person getting away with wrongdoing in this life. Living a comfortable life, with lavish things, and good health is not proof that someone walks with God, no more than being financially poor, sickly in health, or living in deplorable conditions necessitate that someone is not a believer in Christ.

Paul suffered poverty, lived in deplorable conditions at times, and suffered sickness, and was in the will of God when he was in these conditions. (Phil. 4:11-13) The operative word, the most important point of his discourse as it relates to this condition is he did it through Christ. You do yourself no favors doing it without him. Because whether in or out of the body you will go through something, but it is far worse to do so without Christ. The first attack that will come upon a believer when these sorts of challenges face them is against their helmet of salvation. Don’t allow yourself to get to the “why me?” syndrome, this opens the door to the attack. The enemy will send sucker punches to your mind to cause you to doubt your standing with the Lord. It is important at this time not to take off our armor, and certainly not to allow what man does whether it is leader, spouse, or parent to cause you to give your helmet to the enemy. Be resolved within yourself to let NOTHING separate you from the love of God, no matter how hard the challenge may seem.

If you are reading this and you have left the Lord because of abuse done to you in a local assembly, or because of a spouse, or because of parents not reflecting the love of God, come back to God. As stated earlier, abuse is no excuse to turn your back on He who never turned his back on you. Do not judge Yah’s love for you based on what others do, as Paul said, was he crucified for you? As he makes clear in 1 Cor. 11:1 follow him as he follows Christ. The implication being if he isn’t following Christ don’t you follow his example. This is a lesson for us all, as inspired as the men who wrote letters for us in the bible were, only One man was without sin, above reproach, and died for you, all else were subject to missing the mark. All else had struggles with their flesh, and so will you. As much as David was a man after God’s own heart, he missed it on several occasions. Don’t think that because you will miss it that you don’t love God, and don’t allow the enemy to cause you to leave your relationship with God because of what others do.

Now don’t misunderstand I am not saying you should make yourself a mark for the enemies target practice either. Loving someone doesn’t dictate that you give them ammunition to shoot you, if the situation dictates you removing your presence then do so. However, you don’t have to be bitter as you go, choose to be at peace when you leave. Sometimes opposition comes because God knows you wouldn’t leave otherwise, so he has to make you uncomfortable. Other times he may tell you to stay, to release you later, but make sure that whatever step you take it is ordered by Him and not by a whim. It’s not about trusting people anyway, because there is no scripture that tells you to put your trust in man, God wants you to put your trust in Him. This is the challenge that is placed before you. As with Messiah there were times he was to stand and face adversity, but there were also times he was directed to flee the situation. It is only as we walk with Him will we be able to discern which one we should do. But my friends think it not strange the fiery trial which is to try you. Don’t be deceived by ministers preaching immature messages that would lead you to believe that if you aren’t having your best life now that you are out of the will of God.

Paul didn’t have his best life now, Peter didn’t have his best life now, and certainly Christ didn’t have his best life now. What they all had was a life that fulfilled the purposes of God before they left and that is what a life following Christ gives you. He tells you, you will have tribulation, and he tells you to be of good cheer because he has overcome it. (Jn 16:33) He tells you, the servant is not greater than the master, and thus if what was done in a green tree by the “powers that be” took place to him do you really think you will escape the tribulation to come? (Luke 23:31) We like Yahushah, like Paul, Peter, John, Stephen, and a host of others will have opportunities to leap for joy if we stay hooked up and we follow His instructions. He will allow you to go through the fire, but you best believe you won’t be in it alone, he doesn’t always circumvent the lion’s den experience, but he is able to shut the mouth of the lion, and think not that it is impossible for you to be at the peak of your career yet be faced with the trial of your life. Is this not the story of Daniel who because of his faithfulness to God was put in a place of leadership when he and his people were under captivity? Was he not thrown in a lion’s den for following the instructions of Yah?

If you are going through some challenges in your relationships, if you have been betrayed, abused, or misused, don’t give up on God. Hold on to your faith, and know that God is for you, no matter who is against you. We put way more trust and faith in people then the scripture allows, and therefore we make sweeping generalizations based on human shortcomings. There is only one who died for you, and there is only one you can trust without waiver, and that is Yahushah. Politicians, religious leaders, or even family members should not have your uncompromised trust, nor should they have the power to separate you from the love of God. We can only overcome our flesh by walking in love, because while faith may waiver, where hope gets tired, love never fails.